Casket extension handle



Oct. 31, 1950 J, A, HAACKE 2,527,721

GASKET EXTENSION HANDLE Filed June e, 1947 2 Sheets-sheet 1 S Sfk @3% @if "S s Ml HFS il d um m j w gi@ km N s I y Y f: QS Y czlizme INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 3l, 1950 J. A. HAAcKE 2,527,721

GASKET EXTENSION HANDLE Filed June 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JJaacVie INVENTOR ATTORNEYS atented ct. 315,

UNITED g 2,527,721 v `oAsnlrr EXTENSIN .HANDIl-E Joseph A. Haacke, Liallas, Tex; Application June 6,- 19am-serialNassau@ 3 claims. (o1. ii-'415) This invention relates, to Acasket handles, and has for its primary object the provision of a casket handle that can be attachedto caskets of conventional construction, `whereby to greatly facilitate the carrying of the casket from place to place. Y 'Y v Stated in its broadest aspects, the invention contemplates the formation of a casket handle that extends completely around the casket, and which is extendible at its ends. K

It is well known that pall bearers, when carrying a casket, have considerable diculty in doingso, by reason of thel fact that with three pall bearers or attendants. positioned won each side, there is a tendency for those in the middle and rear to trip, since it is often necessary that they bunch close together inmaneuvering the casket down steps, around corners, and through other places inwhich there is little freedom of movement.

Additionally, it is 'an important object of the invention-toprovide a casket handle whereby the casket can be maneuvered withl ease through narrow doorways, and vin other closely cramped quarters. A

Still another object of the invention is to provide a casket handle that vis extendible at either or both ends, and in which is embodied means for retaining the extendible part efficientlyY and without possibility of accidental movement in either open or normally closed position.

VA further important object of the inventionV is to providean extendible handle of the type described which, though adapted with unusual efficiency to perform the iunctions stated, may neverthelessbe 4constructed without impairment of any type as regards the ornamental and attractive appearance thereof, and which iscapable of easy and speedy attachment to a casket, can be constructed without noticeable increase in eX- pensetoverconventional handles, and which .yetis .unusually strong and lsimple of operation. f

With the foregoing and other objectsV in View which` will appear Vas the description proceeds. the invention consists'of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, herein- Figure a top plan view'of the casket, the" dotted lines indicati-ng the'extendible position 'o'ff onefef the endS- Sigure `3 isan enlarged detail View Ataken o line 3g-,3 of 11igur.e 1.V u y y Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiveviewrshowing means embodied .in the invenlinefTS .of Figure 2. vFigure .5 is an enlarged detail View taken onl une V5ft of Figure .5..

Referring -to the, drawing in detail, :the reference characterl C designates a casket of conventional construction, to which the vhandle constitutingpthe linvention is attached. The `refafter more fully described and pointed out in the 'i claims, it Vbeing understood that Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

- Figure 1l lis Va side elevational view of-vaca'sket,

with my extendibleYhandlemounted thereon, the

handle being shown in closed positionat both l.

ends.

erence characterv Vhas general reference to the handle, v'By particular reference 4to Figure 2, it is seen'fthat `the -handle 5 .extends completely around the sidewall `,ofthe casket, and when in normal position, is preferably equidistantl at all points from the -si( le -,wall.A vThe vhandle is spaced from the sidewall suciently to enable those carrying thecasket vto, obtain a .proper grip thereon, atV any point, this 'being possible whether the handleis in normal or extended-position. y Longitudinally aligned in spaced relation along each side wall-of the casket is a plurality of mounting plates 6, from each of which is loutwardly 'extended'.a handle supporting member 1, the :members 1 having .longitudinally registering openings :8. Y, i

The vopenings 8 may beof any desired outline,

`contormin'g to the outline in cross sectionof the particular handle being used.

Ornamental face plates 9 may additionally be mounted on lthe outer ends of the supporting y members 1, as desired, and in fact, additional face plates lil can be mounted on the handle 5.

withoutinterference or detriment to the operation of .the handle.

Embodiedgingthe handle 5 are-opposed tubular members `4,1, said `members being mounted in parallel relation to extend along opposed :sides of. 1,the casket. y These are carried in the openingst, .and are retainedtherein by .any suitable means ,so as to be stationary .relative to" 'the casket, v-Preferably, the ,ends of each tubular memberQI-I terminate Zat l2, being flush withthe V .opposed-outer walls ofthe end supporting mem- .lietiv l The referencecharacter .I3 designates genrallv.-.themovable A*or.ckeitendible y'portions ,of .the

Lhandle 5, thsevbeing positioned at each end 'of the casket, and being each of substantially U- Y shaped formation, having opposed side arms I4, and a connecting end member I5. In cross section, the side arms i4 correspond to the conformation incross section of the bores of the stationary tubular members II, and areslidable therein. When the extendible portions of the handle 5 are in their normal or closed position, as shown by full lines in Figure 2,-the inner ends of the side arms I4 preferably terminate approxi-` mately at I6, that is, slightly short of the center point of the casket C. Thus, the extendible portions I3 can be withdrawn relative to the casket a relatively substantial distance at either end, and this permits the pall bearers to space themselves apart a considerable distance in carrying the casket, whenever necessary or desired.

To prevent withdrawal of the side arms I4 from the tubular members II to no more than the desired extent, I form-each tubular member II with a longitudinal closedY slot I'I extending along the inner wall of the tubular member, there being one of these slots formed on either side of the center point ofthetubular member, as clearly-shown in Figure-f1.

The slots I'I communicate with the bore of the tubular member II, and carried in the slots I'I are stop pieces i8, that are slidably movable in the slots. These areY xedly secured, as by screws I9 or the like, to the inner wall of each side arm I4, and thus, when the side arms I4 are Withdrawn from the respective tubular members iI, the stop pieces I8 eifectively serve to precent Withdrawal beyond a desired point.

When it is desired that the extendible portions I3 of the handle -5 be retained in normal or closed position, they are engaged by fastening means mounted on each end of the casket. These each comprise preferably a mounting plate 2B, having integrally formed therewith the outwardly extended ear 2l.' The mounting plates 20 are rigidly joined to the ends of the casket C by means of screws 22 or the like. wardly extended ends of the respective ears 2l are formed with slots or grooves 23 in which are received angular levers 24, that are pivotally mounted by means of pins 25 or the like.

A spring 26 is secured at one Vend to each lever 24, and at the other endiis preferably recessed as at 27 in the ear 2|.v This spring is held under compression, and its normal tendency to 'expand urges the lever 24 outwardly and downwardly. The outwardly extended end of the lever 24 is formed with a hook'28, which isadapted to engage the end member i5 of the extendible handleportion I3. At the other end of the lever, a nger grip 28 is preferably provided, whereby thelever may bev withdrawn from engagement with the end member I5 as desired, for the purpose of lengthen# ing the handle as described 'above'. i v'When the end member I5 is returned to its normal closed posi'- the rear end extended.. Or, both may be extended. if this is believed more appropriate.

When the casket is being carried through a narrow doorway, the bearers can position themselves at the ends of the casket, the all-around formation of the handle permitting them to grip it at the most suitable point.

In the illustrated example of the invention, it maybe noted from Figs. l and 2 that the casket handle is disposed Well away from the sides and ends of the casket, further away, in fact, than the peripheral edges of the casket cover or base.' In commercial embodiments of the invention, however, the handle would be positioned close to the side and end walls, and would be disposed prefer- Y ably no more than a distance of perhaps 21/ inches away from said side and end walls.

This construction would be desirable in View of the small amount of side and end clearance space for the casketY when it is positioned in a burial box or vault or in the ordinary grave space.

WhatisA claimed is: 1. A handle for a weken-comprising opposite YVtubular members stationarily mounted along opposite side Walls of the casket, .substantially U- shaped end portions at the ends of the casket each extending around one end of the casket and y, each sildably mounted in the opposite tubular members, means preventing extension of the end portions beyond a set extended position, and a single latch means for each U-shaped end portion, said latch means adapted for releasably retaining the end portions in normally retracted position.

2. A handle for a casket, comprising handle supporting members extended outwardly from the opposite side walls of the casket, opposite tubular members xedly retained therein, substantially U-shaped end portions extending around the respective ends of the casket, each end portion being The outtion, it is adaptedto become automatically engaged by the lever 24,? as clearly shownrin Figure 5. i' l By reason o f the construction of my casket handle, it is readily" observed` thatVV it possesses unusual versatility, in permitting ease of carrying of thecasket, and ready maneuverability thereof under all conditions. Either 'orboth ends 'of the handle may bev witlfldrawn as desired, asfor linstance, in ca rryingthe-casket down steps, at the option of the bearers, lthe front end rof the handle may be retained in normal closedposition, with tubular members each having longitudinal slots formed in their respective inner walls, stop pieces carried by the end portions slidable in the slots, and a single latch means for each U-shaped end portion, said latch means adapted for releasably retaining the end portions in normally retracted position.

3. A handle for a casket, comprising opposite stationary members extended longitudinally of the side Walls of the casket, movable U-shaped end portions slidably carried thereby, each end portion extending around one end of a casket, means for preventing extension of the end portions relative to the stationary members beyond a desired point, and a single latch means for each end portion adapted for automatically latching an end portion to Vthe adjacent casket end wall, said latch means each being positioned medially of one end wall of the casket'and adapted for manual release without removal of a hand supportingV The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 354,749 Smedes Dec. 2l, 1886 Y869,423 Cowanl Oct. 29, 1907 2,091,495

Steen Aug. 3l, 1937 

